July 11, 2017

Taking a Break & Madewell

July 11, 2017/ Taylor Ann Dietrich

You know by now that I am all about fitting into outfits that are NOT maternity wear. Which can become stressful at times. I get frustrated when something doesn’t fit only to remind myself “uh you’re pregnant. Its not supposed to fit you.” So when something does, its seriously like a party in my dressing room! And I threw a huge party when this dress from one of my favorite places, Madewell, fit like it did. I did worry I was a little Kim K in this dress, it is much more fitted than what I am used to wearing. But I figure I should rock this bump while I can! I also love that it is not so fitted I will still feel comfortable about wearing it in my non-bump life. Plus, isn’t the length just amazing.

Now that our house is back in order after a big renovation, I have had a lot of down time for myself. And I am trying to embrace it and take it all in. More and more each day I am starting to realize how much our lives are going to change come August. While she is constantly on my mind as she grows each day, lately I am finding myself thinking more about the things that will happen once she arrives. Such as, having to change her diaper! Multiple times a day! Something I hadn’t really thought about until her dresser arrived last week.

So I will admit, this past week I’ve taken a couple more naps than normal. I have sat by the pool when I should be sending emails. I have read books instead of working on my own. While each night I have a mini little worry session about all the things I should have gotten done today, I am pretty thankful for this down time before she arrives.

Sometimes God is asking us to just be still. Not always with our to-do list, like I have been doing, but with our hearts. We are such a go-getter society that its hard to recognize and even acknowledge that we just need a break. We need that moment with Him to get back on track. Finding that moment is the most important part. Sometimes that moment needs to come in place of an item you think you need on your to-do list today.

My prayer is you find time for that moment. If that means adding time in the morning to be with Him before your day takes off, or canceling that workout class for a nap and a good prayer session. Whatever it is, I hope you find a second to see how much love He has for you.

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June 21, 2017

The Boulders

June 21, 2017/ Taylor Ann Dietrich

Dress: Madewell || Shoes (old) Sole Societ y || Similar shoe styles: Here & Here || Bag: Here

Adam and I took a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, over the Memorial Day weekend. It was much different than the normal anniversary trips we take each year. In the past, we have visited NYC, Chicago, Boston, and NYC again (because we both love that city so much). But because we were also celebrating the future arrival of our little one, this trip needed to be more low key… At least for me. Not wanting to venture back to the beach (oh, the horror!), Adam picked Scottsdale – something totally different than we have ever experienced.

We stayed about 40 minutes outside of Old Town Scottsdale in a resort called, The Boulders. At first, I was a little worried that we were so far away from the city (and in the desert, no less). Like I said, we are used to being in the hustle and bustle, and this place was the exact opposite. But it turned out to be exactly what we needed.

We drove into “town” a couple of nights, dining at restaurants like Montauk and The Mission. We ventured to Cave Creek and had amazing pizza at Alberto Ristorante. We played Top Golf in Scottsdale (which I am now obsessed with and cannot wait for it to open in Nashville later this year). We made a late lunch stop at Shake Shack – and, let’s be honest, I could have eaten there for every meal! And of course, we made time for some of Scottsdale’s fabulous shopping at Kierland Commons.

It was there that I found (actually, Adam picked it out) this adorable chambray off-the-shoulder dress from Madewell. Upon first glance, I thought for sure it wouldn’t fit the bump but thankfully I was wrong. It is the perfect dress that can be worn casually or dressy. I recently wore it to our friend’s rehearsal dinner and just changed up the shoes to make it fancier.

With all the fun excursions, it was our resort that made us never want to leave Arizona. The Boulders is a gorgeous and was recommend by our friend and fabulous travel agent, Alex Stockton. It makes you feel completely removed from the rest of the world. It is so quiet that when we first arrived, Adam and I were whispering to each other without even realizing it. I was obsessed with our little casita and its rustic desert vibes. We went to bed early (partly this pregnant girls fault), got up early (again…my fault) and spent the day sitting at the pool with a fantastic view of the boulders. Yes, they do actually have boulders scattered throughout the property.

I am not used to looking at rocks, cactus, or dirt. In Tennessee, we have grass. Normally my view of choice is the ocean. But there was something very soothing about the view of the boulders. We had plenty of downtime during this trip, which led me to pray… a lot. More than I probably have in a long time. A lot about the future, a lot about worries back home, and a whole lot about our baby girl. Being in a different but safe setting seemed to allow me to hear Him a little better.

One morning, while Adam was playing golf (which I wasn’t happy about until he offered to get me a pre-natal message), I had an abundant amount of time to myself. So, God and I spent a lot of time together… just talking… while I looked at the boulders. And those boulders started to remind me a whole lot of Jesus.

God is our rock. He is our firm foundation. He is steadfast and strong. He is the rock that is higher than I where we turn when our heart is overwhelmed (Psalm 61:2). It was not lost on me that in that moment, with that gorgeous view, that God was reminding me that He is strong enough to fight my battles. And because of that moment, I have a newfound love for boulders – and our majestic desert getaway.

January 17, 2017

Take a Moment

January 17, 2017/ Taylor Ann Dietrich

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Jacket: Madewell || Simliar jacket here & here || Top: H&M || Jeans: Madewell || Similar jeans Here || Watch: Nixon || Boots: BP

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate a good jacket. I mean, a good jacket keeps us warm on those cold days. A good jacket protects us from the elements. A good jacket holds our cell phone and keys without weighing us down. Yes, there is nothing better than a good jacket. This jacket from Madewell is cute enough to wear through the winter and spring. So, do not be surprised if you see me wearing it ALL the time these next few months.

Sometimes, we just need to take a moment in our busy lives to figure things out. And, friends, I am currently in that season. If I am being totally honest, I have felt a little overwhelmed and even unmotivated on the blog front. Normally, ideas for posts flow through me like crazy; but, lately, I have really been struggling to even sit down to write. This is crazy to me because I usually want nothing more than to sit down and pour out my feelings on the keyboard of my Macbook. It has baffled me so much that I am now asking the question, “What’s my purpose?”

From past experiences, I have found that it is in these moments that God usually tries to tell me something… Something big that I might not expect. Sometimes, the answer comes right away, and I can press forward with a new plan. Other times, the answer is to just keep doing what I am doing, but maybe a little differently. Either way, I know that I can’t find the answer by fighting the question. It is only through prayer and conversation with Him (and a whole lot of Trust with a capital T) that I am able to answer this crazy question.

I don’t know what the next step is for you; but, for me, I know that I need to spend some quality time with Jesus to figure out my next move. This doesn’t mean that I am going anywhere. I’ll still be right here blogging away! But I will also be figuring out OUR (meaning me and Jesus because we are a team) next move. If you are in a similar spot, I want you to know that it is okay to take some time to process, think, and pray about the next step in your life. We don’t have to have it all figured out! That is the beauty of this relationship with Christ. No matter where the path turns or how our desires shift, He will always be there to guide us in the right direction, which always leads to His heart.